Top Ten Research Reports of 2003

The year that was 2003 saw many reports that in small ways moved us closer to the prize we all eye: relief from the suffering caused by HIV. I included work that I feel all clinicians need to be familiar with, but I am also aware the list neglects what may be an even greater story: the long-overdue beginning of antiretroviral use in Africa, China, India and other places where AIDS rages unopposed. Last year, many more people in resource-poor nations received HIV treatment than the year before, although this relief still only found a small fraction of those in need. This is just the first step toward making advances in HIV care available to everyone. We can hope that in 2004 we will see more people living with HIV get the treatments they, as human beings, deserve. In fact, we can demand it.

While the list offered here highlights achievements in understanding that readily translate into improved care, more often than not, it illustrates areas where answers are scarce and more work is required. How we face the challenge of answering these questions over the next year will be judged, and around this time in 2005 another top 10 will be listed. It seems we just can't help it!

Please note: Knowledge about HIV changes rapidly. Note the date of this article, and before treating patients or employing any therapies described in these materials, verify all information independently. If you are a patient, please consult a doctor or other medical professional before acting on any of the information presented in this article.

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 750 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.